“Gleefully wacky and irreverent.”

–The New York Times

“Line by line, Mr. Rudnick may be the funniest writer for the stage in the United States today.”

–The New York Times

“Deeply funny musings and adventures elevate Paul Rudnick to the highest level of American comedy writing.”

–Steve Martin

“One of the funniest quip-meisters on the planet.”

–The New York Times

“Paul Rudnick is a champion of truth (and love and great wicked humor) whom we ignore at our peril.”

–David Sedaris

“Quips fall with the regularity of the autumn leaves.”

–Associated Press

June 25, 2015

Highly Recommended

9.212418Last night John and I saw Bill Finn’s glorious A New Brain at Encores. We’d seen the show at its premiere in 1998 at Lincoln Center and loved it; this new version, directed by James Lapine, is superb. The show was inspired by events which actually befell Mr. Finn, when he underwent brain surgery. Somehow he’s turned this into a show that’s soaringly melodic, hilarious and deeply moving. A New Brain has a phenomenal cast, led by Jonathan Groff, Ana Gasteyer, Aaron Lazar and Dan Fogler. The show is so terrific that I hope it enjoys a life beyond this run of just a few days. I’ve also heard reports of an upcoming revival of Bill Finn’s masterpiece, Falsettos.

While we’re on the subject of wonderful things: you must read George Hodgman’s completely sensational Bettyville. It’s a memoir which covers George’s moving back to Missouri to care for his aging mother, and his years in Manhattan, but any plot summary can’t possibly do this book justice. It’s gorgeously and irresistibly well-written, and sinfully pleasurable.
bettyville

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